Adjustable pedestal assembly

ABSTRACT

Adjustable pedestal assemblies for supporting stacks of automobile frames on the deck of a flat car. Each adjustable pedestal assembly forms a support for the rear end portion of the bottom frame of a stack of frames, and includes a channel-like base extending longitudinally of the car having parallel side walls and retainer flanges extending inwardly therefrom having inwardly opening notches spaced therealong. A pedestal block is supported on the channel-like base between the flanges thereof and is retained from tilting movement relative to the base by said flanges and is locked in position by a locking ring extending about the pedestal block. The locking ring has portions registrable with the notches in the flanges and is released from the notches by upward movement of the ring along the pedestal block, to accommodate movement of the pedestal block along the base in accordance with the length of frame to be supported.

United States Patent [191 Broling et a1. 5

[451 Feb. 5, 1974 1,122] Filed: Appl. No.: 254,158

1 ADJUSTABLE PEDFSTAL ASSEMBLY [.75] inventors: Keith W. Broling,Olympia Fields;

Richard A. Tatina, Chicago, both of 111.

[73] Assignee: Portec, lnc., Oak Brook, 11].

May 17, 1972 [52] US. Cl 105/367, 105/366 D, 105/369 A,

, 248/191 R [51] Int. Cl. B60 7/08, B61d 45/00 12/1968 Pulcrano et a1105/366 D Primary Examiner-Draytcin E. Hoffman I V Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Hill, Sherman, Meroni, Gross & Simpson ABSTRACT Adjustable pedestalassemblies for supporting stacks of automobile frames on the deck of aflat car. Each adjustable pedestal assembly forms a support for the rearend portion of the bottom frame of a stack of frames, and includes achannel-like 'base extending longitudinally of the car having parallelside walls and retainer flanges extending inwardly therefrom havinginwardly opening notches spaced therealong. A pedestal block issupported on the channel-like base between the flanges thereof and isretained from tilting movement relative to the base by said flanges andis locked in position by a locking ring extending about the pedestalblock. The locking ring has portions registrable with the notches in theflanges and is released from the notches by upward movement of the ringalong the pedestal block, to accommodate movement of th e pedestal blo ck along the base in accordance with the length of frame to be supported.

7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 5 PAIENIE FEB 5 m4 sum 2 or 2 RN I m/ ON 1ADJUSTABLE PEDESTAL ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND, SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OFINVENTION.

ther discloses pedestals which may be adjustably moved laterally andlongitudinally of the deck of the flat car through bolt and slotconnections. Such connections while effective to adjust and lock thepedestals in position, require time to properly position the pedestalsand bolt them in position. The adjustable pedestal permits quickchangeover from load to load or a mix of frames within a load.

The present invention is an improvement and simplification of that ofU.S. Pat. No. 3,595,176 in that the pedestal block is supported on achannel-like base having inwardly extending notched retainer flanges andadjustment of the pedestal block may be attained by moving the blockalong its base by lifting a locking ring out of engagement with thenotches in the flanges of the base, sliding the pedestalblock along thebase and lowering the locking ring into engagement with the notches inthe flanges, when the pedestal block is in a prese-' lected position ofadjustment.

The advantages of the present invention, therefore, are that thepositions ofthe pedestals may be prese lected in accordance with thelength of the automobile frames to be loaded, and locked in position bythe simple operation of lowering a locking ring to have interengagementwith the base.

Another advantage of the invention is in the simplicity in structure ofthe base and pedestal block and the positive locking of the pedestalblock in a preselected position of adjustment, by the simple lowering ofa locking ring into interengagement with the base.

A principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a simpleand improved pedestal arrangement for supporting a stack of frames on arailway flat car, in which the positions of the pedestal are preselectedand adjustment of the pedestal is by the simple operation of lifting alocking ring, sliding the pedestal block to a required position and thenlowering the locking ring into interengagement with the base.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable pedestalarranged with a view toward utmost simplicity in construction;positiven'ess in locking the block in position and simplicity inreleasing and adjustably moving the pedestal block along its base.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, althoughvariations and modifications may be effected without departing from thespirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a generally diagrammaticfragmentary view in side elevation of a portion of a railway flat car,illustrating the principle of stacking and tying frames onto the deck ofthe car, and generally showing an adjustable pedestal constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention supporting therear end portion of a stack of frames on the flat deck of the car. FIG.2 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken through the deck of aflat car, illustrating a series of laterally aligned adjustablepedestals supported on the deck of the car for supporting the rear 'endportions of the frames of a stack of frames on the deck of a car.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the pede'stal, its base and locking ring priorto its assembly to the deck of a car with certain parts broken away .andcertain other parts shown in section.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the pedestal assembly shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of the pedestal sembly shown in FIGS.3 and 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In FIGS. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings, there is shown a portion of a railway flat car 10 having aplurality of generally horizontally extending vehicle frames 11supported on and stacked above the flat deck of the car one on top ofthe other. Usually two stacks of frames are stacked across the deck ofthe car and other. stacks of frames are spaced longitudinally along thedeck of the car in side-by-side relation.

The vehicle frames may be of various conventional constructionsincluding spaced side rails 12 suitably connected together by crossbracing (not shown). The side rails may extend parallel for the lengthof the respective frame or may converge from the back to the front ofthe frame.

The bottom frame 11 is generally shown in FIG. 1 as spaced above thedeck of the flat car on rear pedestals 15 and front pedestals 16. Theadjustable pedestals 15 are adjustable longitudinally of the car inaccordance with the principles of the present invention while theopposite end pedestals 1.6 may be fixedly mounted on the deck of thecar. The pedestals 16 mayalso be replaced by the adjustable type 15 onthe deck of the car, if desired or required.

The upper frames are spaced from the bottom frame and spaced from eachother by interlocking spacers 17 and are interlocked relative to eachother'and to the bottom frame, by. said interlocking spacers 17.-

The spacers 17 are of the same general construction as described in U.S.Pat. No. 3,595,176 and each have an upwardly opening socket and analigned pin 18 depending therefrom. The pins extend through shippingholes provided in the side frame members 12 of the vehicle frames intothe sockets of the next downwardly .spaced spacer. The pins 18 extendthrough shipping holes of the lowermost vehicle frame and are seated inupwardly opening sockets 19 in pedestal blocks 20 of the adjustablepedestals 15. The pins of the spacers are seated in the fixed pedestals16 in a similar manner The weight of the frames, except the bottomframe, is taken on the spacers l7 and pins 18, and pedestals 15 and 16to relieve the lower frames of the stack of frames from the combinedweight of the frames stacked thereabove.

A harness (not shown) in the form of a generally rectangular openframework is provided to tie the frames down to the deck of the car andmay be used to tie two laterally spaced stacks of frames to the deck ofthe car as in U.S. Pat. No. 3,595,176. Anchoring devices 21 on the deckof the car are provided to anchor the harness and frames to the deck ofthe carthrough the conventional connecting links 22 connected with theharness. The connecting links may have turnbuckles and cushioningdevices (not shown) therein to enable tension of the links 22 to betaken up and tie down the stack of frames to the deck of the flat car,as shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,595,176, so not herein shown ordescribed further.

The adjustable pedestal is shown as including a base 23, which may becast, and welded or otherwise secured to the deck of the car. The base23 has a channel-like guide and retaining portion including a bottom web24 forming a support for the pedestal block 20, parallel spaced sidewalls 25 having retainer flanges 26 extending inwardly therefrom, andwith said base and side walls forming a retainer guide for the pedestalblock, retaining the block to said base for adjustable movementtherealong. The retainer flanges 26 have uniformly spaced notches 27spaced therealong and opening toward the center of the base and forminga means cooperating with a locking ring 29, for locking the pedestalblock 20 in position on said base, as will hereinafter more clearlyappear as this specificaaion proceeds. I

The pedestal block 20 is of a generally rectangular formhaving theupwardly opening socket 19 in centered relation with respect thereto andhaving retainer ribs 30 extending outwardly of the side walls thereofadjacent the upper end thereof, to retain the locking ring 29 to saidpedestal block when releasing said locking ring from the notches 27.

Opposite sides of the base of the pedestal block are recessedintermediate the ends of the base, as indicated by reference numeral 31to form lower flanges 32 extending beneath the retainer flanges 26 andupper shoulders 33 extending along the top portions of said retainerflanges (FIG. 3). The flanges 32 extending beneath the retainer flanges26 in cooperation with the shoulders 33 and flanges 26 thus hold thepedestal block from tilting relative to said base.

In assembling the pedestal block 20 to the base, said pedestal blockwith the locking ring 29 thereon, and in an elevated position inengagement with the ribs 30, is inserted in the base from an end thereofwith the recessed portions 31 guided along the retainer flanges 26. Thepedestal block is then retained to its base for slidable movementtherealong by metal strips 35 extending across the open ends thereof andwelded or otherwise secured thereto.

The locking ring 29 is generally rectangular in form and has parallelspaced end walls 36 and side walls 37 connecting said end wallstogether. The side walls 37 are recessed intermediate their ends. Theinner sides of said side walls 37 extending along opposite sides of thepedestal block conform to the recessed portions thereof to provide lugs39 slidable along opposite side walls of the pedestal block andengageable with the upper ribs 30, to prevent the locking ring 29 frombeing lifted off the pedestal block when being moved into a releaseposition.

The end walls 36 of the pedestal block have locking legs 40 dependingtherefrom to come into locking en gagement with aligned notches 27 inopposite retainer flanges 26, to lock the pedestal block in position onthe base 23. The notches are spaced along the retainer flanges of thebase 23 in a predetermined spaced relation to assure that the pedestalblock will be in position to align its socket 19 with a support pin 18extending through the bottom frame of a stack of frames, where it isdesired to interchangeably use the car for stacking frames of differentlengths for different models of vehicles. When it is desired to releasethe lock and change the position of the pedestal block, it is merelynecessary to lift the locking ring 29 and withdraw the legs 40 from therespective notches 27 and then slide the pedestal block into therequired position along its base.

It may be seen from the foregoing that a simplified form of pedestal fora stack of vehicle frames has been provided, which is rugged inconstruction and is adjustable longitudinally of the car to take care offrames of different lengths and is arranged to be accurately located inposition with respect to the bottom frame of the stack of frames toaccommodate the car to be used to interchangeably stack frames ofvarious lengths.

We claim:

1. In a tie-down apparatus for a stack of vehicle frames and incombination with a vehicle having a flat deck,

pedestalmeans supporting the frames on the deck,

spacer means spacing the frames in vertically spaced relation withrespect to each other,

means tying the frames to the flat deck and transferring the weight ofthe frames to said pedestal means, the improvements comprising,

said pedestal means including at least two laterally aligned pedestalassemblies adjustable in accordance with the length of the frames of thestack of frames,

said adjustable pedestal assemblies each including a channel-like baseextending longitudinally of the vehicle deck and having,

a bottom web,

parallel legs extending vertically from opposite sides of said web, and

retainer flanges extending inwardly of said legs,

a pedestal block supported on said bottom web of said base and extendingupwardly therefrom between said flanges and having an upwardly openingsocket portion for supporting the stack of frames and retaining theframes in alignment on said deck, and

locking means slidably guided on said pedestal block for interengagementwith said flanges for retaining said pedestal block in positionon saiddeck and releasable from interengagement with said flanges toaccommodate adjustable movement of said pedestal block along said basein accordance with the length of the frames to be stacked,

said pedestal block having bottom flanges extending under said retainerflanges and having vertically spaced shouldered portions extending oversaid retainer flanges to retain said pedestal block from tiltingrelative to said base.

2. The adjustable pedestal assembly of claim 1,

wherein the retainer flanges have a series of registering inwardlyopening notches spaced therealong,

wherein the locking means has at least one leg engageable with a notchin at least one retainer flange and releasable therefrom by verticalmovement of said locking means to move said leg out of engagement withsaid notch.

3. The adjustable pedestal assembly of claim 1,

wherein the locking means is a locking ring extending about saidpedestal block and having at least one leg extending across said base,engageable with facing registering notches in said flanges and sup- 5 6ported on said web when said locking ring is in a retainer flangesextending inwardly of said legs and locking position and releasable fromsaid flanges by having a series of registering inwardly opening verticalmovement of said leg above the tops of said notches spaced therealong,ng a pedestal block supported on the bottom web of said The adlusablePedestal assembly of Claim 5 base between said retainer flanges andextending wherein the locking ring has two parallel legs dedl f id ba eand having an upwardly Pending therefrom extending along Opposite Sidesopening socket portion for supporting an assoof the pedestal blockacross said base for engageciated end portion f the Stack f frames andment with aligned notches in Sand flanges when taining the portion ofthe stack of frames in associ- Said locking ring is in a locked Positionand ation with said pedestal block in alignment on said able along saidpedestal block to positions above deck said flanges to accommodateadjustable movement of the pedestal block along said base. 5. Theadjustable pedestal assembly of claim 4, wherein the pedestal block isrectangular, the locking ring conforms to said block and the lockinglegs are parallel and depend from each end of said locking ring forlocking engagement with registering notches in said flanges, to retainsaid pedestal block in position on said base. 6. The adjustable pedestalassembly of claim 5, wherein the pedestal block has stop ribs extendingoutwardly from oppositejsides thereof, and releasable from sald flangesby'vertical movement wherein the locking ring has stop lugs extendingin- 9 Sald rmg above the tops of Sam flanges wardly of opposite sidesthereof towards the walls Sald pedestal block havmg at least one Stop nband having bottom flanges extending under said retainer flanges andvertically spaced shouldered portions extending over said retainerflanges to retain said pedestal block from tilting relative to saidbase,

a locking ring extending about said pedestal block and having at leastone leg extending across said base, engageable with facing registeringnotches in said flanges and supported on said bottom web when saidlocking ring is in a locking position and of said pedestal block andengageable with said ribs tending laterally outwardly at least f Side toprevent removal of said locking ring from said thereof and dlsposedabove 531d lockmg when d l bl k said pedestal block is assembled to saidchannel- 7. An adjustable pedestal assembly particularly l 133.56, f 7adapted for use in supporting a stack of vehicle frames ald locklng ringhaving a stop leg extending inwardly above the flat deck of a freighttransporting vehicle, therefrom toward the Wall of said Pedestal block achannel-like base extending longitudinally of the and engageable withsaid stop rib to prevent acciflat deck of the vehicle and having abottom web, dental removal of said locking ring from said pedparallellegs extending vertically from opposite sides estal block.

of said web,

1. In a tie-down apparatus for a stack of vehicle frames and in combination with a vehicle having a flat deck, pedestal means supporting the frames on the deck, spacer means spacing the frames in vertically spaced relation with respect to each other, means tying the frames to the flat deck and transferring the weight of the frames to said pedestal means, the improvements comprising, said pedestal means including at least two laterally aligned pedestal assemblies adjustable in accordance with the length of the frames of the stack of frames, said adjustable pedestal assemblies each including a channellike base extending longitudinally of the vehicle deck and having, a bottom web, parallel legs extending vertically from opposite sides of said web, and retainer flanges extending inwardly of said legs, a pedestal block supported on said bottom web of said base and extending upwardly therefrom between said flanges and having an upwardly opening socket portion for supporting the stack of frames and retaining the frames in alignment on said deck, and locking means slidably guided on said pedestal block for interengagement with said flanges for retaining said pedestal block in position on said deck and releasable from interengagement with said flanges to accommodate adjustable movement of said pedestal block along said base in accordance with the length of the frames to be stacked, said pedestal block having bottom flanges extending under said retainer flanges and having vertically spaced shouldered portions extending over said retainer flanges to retain said pedestal block from tilting relative to said base.
 2. The adjustable pedestal assembly of claim 1, wherein the retainer flanges have a series of registering inwardly opening notches spaced therealong, wherein the locking means has at least one leg engageable with a notch in at least one retainer flange and releasable therefrom by vertical movement of said locking means to move said leg out of engagement with said notch.
 3. The adjustable pedestal assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking means is a locking ring extending about said pedestal block and having at least one leg extending across said base, engageable with facing registering notches in said flanges and supported on said web when said locking ring is in a locking position and releasable from said flanges by vertical movement of said leg above the tops of said flanges.
 4. The adjusable pedestal assembly of claim 2, wherein the locking ring has two parallel legs depending therefrom extending along opposite sides of the pedestal block across said base for engagement with aligned notches in said flanges, when said locking ring is in a locked position, and movable along said pedestal block to positions above said flanges to accommodate adjustable movement of the pedestal block along said base.
 5. The adjustable pedestal assembly of claim 4, wherein the pedestal block is rectangular, the locking ring conforms to said block and the locking legs are parallel and depend from each end of said locking ring for locking engagement with registering notches in said flanges, to retain said pedestal block in position on said base.
 6. The adjustable pedestal assembly of claim 5, wherein the pedestal block has stop ribs extending outwardly from opposite sides thereof, and wherein the locking ring has stop lugs extending inwardly of opposite sides thereof towards the walls of saId pedestal block and engageable with said ribs to prevent removal of said locking ring from said pedestal block.
 7. An adjustable pedestal assembly particularly adapted for use in supporting a stack of vehicle frames above the flat deck of a freight transporting vehicle, a channel-like base extending longitudinally of the flat deck of the vehicle and having a bottom web, parallel legs extending vertically from opposite sides of said web, retainer flanges extending inwardly of said legs and having a series of registering inwardly opening notches spaced therealong, a pedestal block supported on the bottom web of said base between said retainer flanges and extending upwardly of said base and having an upwardly opening socket portion for supporting an associated end portion of the stack of frames and retaining the portion of the stack of frames in association with said pedestal block in alignment on said deck, and having bottom flanges extending under said retainer flanges and vertically spaced shouldered portions extending over said retainer flanges to retain said pedestal block from tilting relative to said base, a locking ring extending about said pedestal block and having at least one leg extending across said base, engageable with facing registering notches in said flanges and supported on said bottom web when said locking ring is in a locking position and releasable from said flanges by vertical movement of said ring above the tops of said flanges, said pedestal block having at least one stop rib extending laterally outwardly from at least one side thereof and disposed above said locking ring when said pedestal block is assembled to said channel-like base, and said locking ring having a stop leg extending inwardly therefrom toward the wall of said pedestal block and engageable with said stop rib to prevent accidental removal of said locking ring from said pedestal block. 